Find out how popular the last name Xu is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Xu.

Xu, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Xu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Xu in America

Xu is the 1381st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Xu surname appeared 25,622 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 9 people would have the surname Xu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Xu to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Xu

The surname "XU" originates from China, where it first appeared in historical records dating back to the 7th century AD. The name is believed to be derived from the Chinese word "xu," which means "humble" or "modest." It was commonly adopted by families living in the regions of Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong.

One of the earliest known references to the surname "XU" can be found in the "Book of Tang," a historical text compiled in the 10th century. This text mentions several prominent individuals with the surname, including Xu Jingzong, a renowned scholar and poet who lived during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD).

In the 11th century, the "XU" surname gained further prominence when Xu Xian, a prominent general and military strategist, played a crucial role in the successful defense of the Song Dynasty against the Liao Empire. His military achievements and loyalty to the imperial court were widely celebrated and recorded in various historical texts.

The "XU" surname has also been associated with several notable scholars and philosophers throughout Chinese history. One such individual was Xu Guangqi (1562-1633), a prominent scholar, mathematician, and agricultural scientist who played a significant role in the introduction of Western science and technology to China during the Ming Dynasty.

Another prominent figure with the "XU" surname was Xu Xiake (1587-1641), a renowned geographer, travel writer, and explorer who traveled extensively throughout China and documented his observations in meticulous detail. His writings provided valuable insights into the geography, culture, and customs of various regions in China during the Ming Dynasty.

In the 19th century, Xu Shou (1818-1884) gained recognition as a prominent writer and poet during the Qing Dynasty. His literary works, which often explored themes of social commentary and personal introspection, were widely praised and influential during his time.

Throughout history, the "XU" surname has been associated with numerous scholars, writers, military leaders, and prominent figures in various fields, reflecting the diverse contributions of individuals bearing this ancient Chinese name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Xu

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Xu.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Xu was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Xu has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Xu was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Xu, please contact us.

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